Residents asked for views on future parking restrictions
Residents and businesses in parts of Oxford are being asked their views on the principle of bringing controlled parking zones (CPZs) to their streets.
Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council have begun an informal consultation process with people living in 13 neighbourhoods across the city about bringing in permit-controlled parking for residents. CPZs are already in place in 37 parts of Oxford, while CPZs for nine other areas have already been approved or have funding in place.
CPZs are one of the tools for dealing with the impact of new developments and initiatives. They help prevent commuter traffic and parking from building up on residential streets. They also reduce congestion and pollution and improve the environment around residents’ homes.
Councillor Yvonne Constance, Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: “CPZs are already reducing commuter parking in residential streets across the city. With our plan to introduce congestion management and a Workplace Parking Levy in the near future, residents’ parking will become even more important – which is why we are taking this proactive approach to stop overspill parking on residential streets.
“We want as many people as possible to take part in this consultation process so that we get a wide range of opinions and can adapt each CPZ to fit the needs of each neighbourhood.”
The consultation will help both authorities prioritise which areas should be earmarked for CPZs in the next wave of implementation, and also to take into account residents’ and businesses’ opinions on matters such as what days and times the restrictions should apply.
Councillor Tom Hayes, Oxford City Council’s Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford, said: “Development can ramp up demand for parking; our councils want to clamp down on commuter parking that can reduce the quality of life of local communities. I'm pleased that we're providing more controlled parking zones to reduce levels of traffic and pollution in more neighbourhoods.
“The city council is jointly funding the extension of CPZs to protect Oxford citizens from having their own streets turned into commuter car parks because we know that people living in areas with controlled parking zones value them highly."
The areas included in the latest consultation are:
- Barton
- Blackbird Leys
- Donnington
- Greater Leys
- Iffley
- Jordan Hill
- Littlemore North
- Littlemore South
- Lower Wolvercote
- Risinghurst
- Rose Hill
- South Oxford (extension)
- Upper Wolvercote.
Permits will be required to park in the CPZ area during the days and times it operates. Residents and businesses in the zone will be eligible to apply for these permits, which also include – for residents – permits for their visitors. A CPZ will usually allow non-permit holders to park for a short time (typically two hours) without the need for a permit during the time the restrictions apply, either in designated places, or throughout the zone.
A maximum of two permits are allowed per household, where parking capacity allows, and the annual cost for two permits is currently £65. Money raised from the sale of permits is used to fund the enforcement of the restrictions. The restrictions only apply to parking on the highway, so do not affect off-street parking on driveways or garages.
Anyone wanting to comment on the proposals should visit the Oxfordshire County Council website before March 5.